More than 30 representatives from local hotels, guest houses and B&Bs rolled up their sleeves to take part, with all equipment and paint provided by the city council.

The work took place in National Tourism Week. It comes as an additional boost to kick start the summer season. A further £600,000 has been earmarked from the council’s budget for the coming financial year to restore railings and shelters, and carry out other improvements along the city’s seafront.

Council leader, Councillor Mary Mears, who went to meet the helpers as work started, said, “The seafront is the city’s shop window and, with eight million visitors a year, it is in everyone’s interests to make sure it is looking good as summer approaches.

“Our miles of seafront railings take a real battering from the elements. Maintaining them is a never-ending task – a bit like painting the Forth Bridge - so we are delighted to take up the this offer from the hoteliers’ association to work with us. Our hotels, guest houses and B&Bs do a great job for Brighton & Hove and take a real pride in the city and the promenade, and this initiative demonstrates that.”

Mark Jones, chairman of Brighton & Hove Hoteliers Association, said, “We hoteliers expend a lot of effort ensuring our hotels and guest houses look great for our guests, but we all think of the seafront as our shop window, and there's no better way of demonstrating our pride in our promenade than by grabbing a paintbrush and helping to shine it up - it's our way of saying we want our visitors to enjoy their whole city experience in 2010.”